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Dot-To-Dot, Oregon
Sid Miller, editor of the Burnside Review, explores seven routes from the coast to the mountains, from inner-city Portland to the Idaho border. Dot-to-Dot, Oregon, a collection of fifty poems, travels through the cities, towns, and monuments of Oregon. Using these locales as a background, three voices narrate the author's loving but critical relationship with the state he calls home.
- GenresPoetry
88 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 10, 2017
I read poetry of various kinds, but I have to say my favorite kind is the poetry of place. Poetry may be the ideal medium to evoke a sense of place. You don’t have to say very much, but what you do say has to count. You have to nail it.
I think Sid Miller pretty much nails it in these poems. Not only does he capture where he’s been—where he is—he makes it personal. These fifty poems aren’t just about places, they’re about himself, about his relationship with his wife, and about how this place (wherever he is) reflects a moment in his life. If some of these places seem too desolate for poetry, they might be the ones that don't stand on their own but only as links—or rest stops—between the others.
His idea was to write fifty poems for fifty towns across Oregon. Poetry by geography. It wasn’t one long road trip; that might work for a college student but Miller has a day job and a family. It took him about eighteen months to travel to all these towns and collect impressions, pictures, and notes, adjusting his approach as he began to write—
“I saw right away that I could not let my own biases get in the way of the poems,” he says, “that I had to look for beauty in unexpected places—to focus on the wonder and less obvious details.”
—and then come up with lines like this, from “La Grande”:
Before I met her,
my wife was pierced in more places
than one can mention in this town.
That’s the cool thing about poetry. It packs so much into so few words. What more do you need to know?
I think Sid Miller pretty much nails it in these poems. Not only does he capture where he’s been—where he is—he makes it personal. These fifty poems aren’t just about places, they’re about himself, about his relationship with his wife, and about how this place (wherever he is) reflects a moment in his life. If some of these places seem too desolate for poetry, they might be the ones that don't stand on their own but only as links—or rest stops—between the others.
His idea was to write fifty poems for fifty towns across Oregon. Poetry by geography. It wasn’t one long road trip; that might work for a college student but Miller has a day job and a family. It took him about eighteen months to travel to all these towns and collect impressions, pictures, and notes, adjusting his approach as he began to write—
“I saw right away that I could not let my own biases get in the way of the poems,” he says, “that I had to look for beauty in unexpected places—to focus on the wonder and less obvious details.”
—and then come up with lines like this, from “La Grande”:
Before I met her,
my wife was pierced in more places
than one can mention in this town.
That’s the cool thing about poetry. It packs so much into so few words. What more do you need to know?
December 14, 2010
As a resident of Oregon, I find this collection of poetry inspiring, making me want to wander around the state, especially to Corvallis, Ashland, and more of the coast than I have yet visited. Also, his description of Seaside, Oregon is just as I remember it. The book is brimming with lively detail.
June 6, 2022
Sid Miller’s Dot-to-Dot, Oregon is an adventure in poetry and a great read for anyone who has an affinity for road trips. Miller explores fifty Oregon cities in seven different routes, and the poems ran the gamut from playful to threatening to mournful. Each poem goes beyond just capturing the scenery, immersing the reader in the atmosphere and attitudes of the city. By the time you turn the last page, some of these cities will feel as if you’ve walked some of these cities yourself.
As a native Oregonian, I was impressed by the way Miller captured the essence of towns I grew up in or visited with surprising and sometimes brutal accuracy. I appreciate that Miller doesn’t sugarcoat it. Not every poem is an ode to the city it represents, which makes for an even more interesting journey. I lived in Corvallis for nearly a decade and wanted to fight him on the description of the wind, but could only instead feel proud that my city earned the title “the state’s only city that survives nuclear war.”
I didn’t approach this volume of poetry anticipating that I would make any new discoveries about the state I’ve called home for almost thirty years, but Miller still managed to take me to places I’d never been before.
Oregonians will get a kick out of looking up their hometown and seeing it through fresh eyes, and people who’ve never visited may find themselves planning to a trip to drive one of Miller’s routes and see the sights for themselves.
As a native Oregonian, I was impressed by the way Miller captured the essence of towns I grew up in or visited with surprising and sometimes brutal accuracy. I appreciate that Miller doesn’t sugarcoat it. Not every poem is an ode to the city it represents, which makes for an even more interesting journey. I lived in Corvallis for nearly a decade and wanted to fight him on the description of the wind, but could only instead feel proud that my city earned the title “the state’s only city that survives nuclear war.”
I didn’t approach this volume of poetry anticipating that I would make any new discoveries about the state I’ve called home for almost thirty years, but Miller still managed to take me to places I’d never been before.
Oregonians will get a kick out of looking up their hometown and seeing it through fresh eyes, and people who’ve never visited may find themselves planning to a trip to drive one of Miller’s routes and see the sights for themselves.
March 19, 2018
Dot-to-Dot, Oregon by Sid Miller is a charming poetry collection centered around different locations throughout the state of Oregon. I love poetry that grounds itself in place, and as someone who has spent a lot of time on road trips, I felt that Dot-to-Dot was a natural fit for me as a reader. The poems in the collection are all named after an Oregonian town or landmark; in an endearing introduction, Miller explains that he was inspired to write the collection after realizing he hadn’t explored much of the state he calls home. Each poem tells a story about the location it was inspired by, and Miller finds a way to describe these locations while also ensuring that each poem is personal to his own experiences. There are many standout poems, but one I keep coming back to is “Oregon Dune,” which conveys the sweeping Oregon coast with sparing description. The coast is an elemental, inspiring place, and I’ve never been able to stare at its expanse without having at least one moment of turning inward and contemplative. Miller sums up this feeling well:
“Here, the easy association is the ocean—
waves over your head, swells for miles.
The harder one is your life—
waves over your head, the lack of horizon.”
“Here, the easy association is the ocean—
waves over your head, swells for miles.
The harder one is your life—
waves over your head, the lack of horizon.”
July 24, 2020
I'm an open-minded poetry reader with a proclivity for what is tangible. Sid Miller's poetry collection aligns well with my desires. There were whispers of profundity and interiority throughout the text that did not fruit but I'm not one to say whether or not that was even the author's purpose. That being said, as an Oregonian myself who's seen little the state's abundance, each vignette was an offering of possibility.
This was an easy read, especially for someone with a competitive nature to finish the few sections contained within the book. Unlike most poetry, I did not need to sit with myself long after reading, rather, I wanted to get out the door and drive away. The narrator is a true spectator. Sometimes their commentary and my own thoughts blended with eerie ease, especially in moments where the setting was familiar. Perhaps with a smaller focus, Miller could've left us all with a feeling of resonance. For what it's worth, these are beautiful poems and even if they don't stick with you forever, they make for a nice read.
This was an easy read, especially for someone with a competitive nature to finish the few sections contained within the book. Unlike most poetry, I did not need to sit with myself long after reading, rather, I wanted to get out the door and drive away. The narrator is a true spectator. Sometimes their commentary and my own thoughts blended with eerie ease, especially in moments where the setting was familiar. Perhaps with a smaller focus, Miller could've left us all with a feeling of resonance. For what it's worth, these are beautiful poems and even if they don't stick with you forever, they make for a nice read.
June 12, 2023
When I was recommended Dot-To-Dot, Oregon, I was told how accurate the poems felt for those who've lived in Oregon their whole life. I was excited to flip through and find the towns where I'd lived, looking for an authentic view of my homes through Sid Miller's poetic lens. Miller isn't a native to many of the towns, though, rather a visitor on his multiple trips through Oregon. The poems are linear, mapping Miller's experience of the state through earnest, lyrical, and entertaining observations. Once I realized this, I enjoyed the collection much more.
June 10, 2019
This collection of poems by Sid Miller stood out from other poetry books I read for two reasons: the poems have a unifying theme but not the same agenda. They are inspired by the author's travels through the state of Oregon and although each poem is named after a place, not all of them are about the place. The topics of the poems range from the author's experiences to historical monuments. And then there are poems that leave you wondering what the author is talking about.
I can't say if I love this book but I definitely don't hate it, and that says a lot, considering my experience with poetry.
I can't say if I love this book but I definitely don't hate it, and that says a lot, considering my experience with poetry.
June 12, 2017
Poetry is not a genre I have ever found myself picking up for pleasure reading, but as a person who loves travel, Dot-To-Dot, Oregon felt like the right fit. I loved the way Sid Miller captured each of the towns along the route and I even found myself wanting to jump in the car and follow his path. This is a great companion book for anyone travelling through Oregon, especially because it feels like a scavenger hunt — the reader trying to picture the town exactly as the author intended. This collection is a time-travelling adventure, and beautiful art, all wrapped into one package.
March 18, 2019
This short, poetic road trip is delightful. Having lived in Oregon my entire life, it was really fun to read through and be able to point out places I recognize and know. This is such a cool way to share my home with people!
March 15, 2017
Dot-to-Dot, Oregon is a genuine collection of poetry. Sid Miller's brilliantly contrived road trip through the state of Oregon is a captivatingly written foray into both places and emotions. The poems derived from each pitstop not only reflect physical elements of each location, but even more so reflect upon Miller's response to these elements. The reader feels a part of each stop, sitting next to Miller and his wife at the bar; watching the rainbow colors reflected in a pool of water; anxiously awaiting the results of a life-changing test. The beauty of Miller's writing is its honest focus on emotional responses to the world around him, developed in a style that is both accessible and raw. These poems tell stories, and these stories are ones that everyone needs to hear. Dot-to-Dot Oregon is, at the surface, a road trip through coastal, suburban, rural, and urban Oregon. But readers will immediately find that this trip is funny, sad, challenging, desolate, vibrant, and fundamentally real. In that connection to reality lies the truest gem of Sid Miller's poetry.
June 6, 2014
Sometimes small bites are the most savory ones.
Personally, I feel that poetry should be a part of everyone’s everyday life. Though I’ll admit that even for someone who loves poetry as much as I do, an everyday habit can be a challenge. Oddly, stopping for coffee seems to be a twice daily habit that requires so little effort.
You would think that something that so draws up and gathers the soul, caresses it, fills it, and then releases ever so gently, and yet, our soul is so greatly renewed in the way that poetry does, it would be an easy habit to engage. Author Sid Miller’s poetry is like this.
Miller’s journeys around the State of Oregon in his book, Dot ~ to ~ Dot, Oregon, are instantly accessible as poems. Each of his stops, highlighting just a brief moment in time, are wondrously capture by his poetry. Poetry of place can often inspire us. The Mountains, the seashore or the great forests, all of which are easily accessible here in Oregon, could have served as Miller’s inspiration. Instead he chooses small towns and brings forth the mundane into shap and clear focus. I am especially fond of these lines from “Salem.” (page 50)
Collective intelligence ensures that nobody
will correctly guess the number of jellybeans
in the giant jar. And further, the mean
of those guesses will be closer to the correct
number than any one guess submitted.
The fact that I would like only a handful
is of no consequence.
I highly recommend Miller’s book. There is wonder and beauty in simple things, and this book contains many moments of wonder and beauty.
Personally, I feel that poetry should be a part of everyone’s everyday life. Though I’ll admit that even for someone who loves poetry as much as I do, an everyday habit can be a challenge. Oddly, stopping for coffee seems to be a twice daily habit that requires so little effort.
You would think that something that so draws up and gathers the soul, caresses it, fills it, and then releases ever so gently, and yet, our soul is so greatly renewed in the way that poetry does, it would be an easy habit to engage. Author Sid Miller’s poetry is like this.
Miller’s journeys around the State of Oregon in his book, Dot ~ to ~ Dot, Oregon, are instantly accessible as poems. Each of his stops, highlighting just a brief moment in time, are wondrously capture by his poetry. Poetry of place can often inspire us. The Mountains, the seashore or the great forests, all of which are easily accessible here in Oregon, could have served as Miller’s inspiration. Instead he chooses small towns and brings forth the mundane into shap and clear focus. I am especially fond of these lines from “Salem.” (page 50)
Collective intelligence ensures that nobody
will correctly guess the number of jellybeans
in the giant jar. And further, the mean
of those guesses will be closer to the correct
number than any one guess submitted.
The fact that I would like only a handful
is of no consequence.
I highly recommend Miller’s book. There is wonder and beauty in simple things, and this book contains many moments of wonder and beauty.
August 10, 2016
Poetry and travel is a lovely combination. Sid Miller really nailed it with this collection. I found myself drawn to the poems about La Grande, Eugene, Portland, Salem, Molalla, and Crater Lake. My favorite line in the entire collection comes from the poem titled "Portland" and it reads,
"You were taught never to go anywhere / without nouns—abstraction is a blind man / in the desert."
This line remained with me throughout my perusal of the rest of the collection. Miller has a talent for weaving lovely, lyrical lines with often hilariously mundane or slightly disturbing imagery from around Oregon. I particularly liked the small maps the preceded each mini road trip route. Being fairly unfamiliar with most of the Oregon myself, the maps helped orient me and had me itching to pack a bag and hop in my roommate's Buick for a spontaneous adventure.
On a side note, I also really enjoyed Miller's introduction and his humorous account of how this book came to be. I am often guilty of glossing right over these sections in books, but Miller's introduction was thoughtful, fascinating, funny, and provided valuable insight.
Even if you don't usually enjoy poetry, I recommend giving this one a try if you have any interest at all in travel, Oregon, or even sociology.
"You were taught never to go anywhere / without nouns—abstraction is a blind man / in the desert."
This line remained with me throughout my perusal of the rest of the collection. Miller has a talent for weaving lovely, lyrical lines with often hilariously mundane or slightly disturbing imagery from around Oregon. I particularly liked the small maps the preceded each mini road trip route. Being fairly unfamiliar with most of the Oregon myself, the maps helped orient me and had me itching to pack a bag and hop in my roommate's Buick for a spontaneous adventure.
On a side note, I also really enjoyed Miller's introduction and his humorous account of how this book came to be. I am often guilty of glossing right over these sections in books, but Miller's introduction was thoughtful, fascinating, funny, and provided valuable insight.
Even if you don't usually enjoy poetry, I recommend giving this one a try if you have any interest at all in travel, Oregon, or even sociology.
January 6, 2011
I really liked the idea behind this collection of poems of taking a road trip through Oregon. Many of Oregon's towns and cities get through own poem based off of the author's first impressions as he drives through for a couple of hours. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Oregon and the variety it provides in scenery and people. It's also a way to get to know Oregon if you can't travel a lot.
October 21, 2012
Dot-to-Dot, Oregon is a unique poetry book. The author, Sid Miller, spent about a year and a half traveling through Oregon, using the stops along the way as inspiration for his poetry. While some are focused on descriptions, others chronicle events during his travels. The poetry is very descriptive, and is an interesting look at Oregon.
February 13, 2015
I enjoyed this collection of poems quite a lot. Each poem is named after a town/city in Oregon and is either about the authors experiences while visiting the locale, or about the place itself. I loved the vivid imagery Miller uses and enjoyed seeing my beloved state through someone else's eyes.
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March 20, 2017New summer plan: drive around Oregon using Dot-to-Dot Oregon as my trip planner! I love Oregon and yet after 36 years, Dot-to-Dot Oregon uses words to explore the places I thought I knew. How fun would it be to take a trip using these routes, stopping at wonderful new corners, reading these poems along the way? Each section begins with a geographical look at where the towns are in relation to each other, and could be used to plan a fun day or weekend trip. Miller's poems are easily accessible and would be a fun read for anyone from 13 to 103. I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews